Vatican
City, 24 January 2013
(VIS) – Benedict XVI's message for the 47th World Communications
Day was presented this morning in the Press Office of the Holy See.
The Day, which will take place this year on Sunday, 12 May, has the
theme of "Social Networks: Portals of Truth and Faith; New
Spaces for Evangelisation". Participating in the presentation
were Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical
Council for Social Communications, and Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of
that same dicastery.
"The
message of this World Communications Day," said Archbishop
Celli, "presents a positive assessment, though not a naive one
for that matter, of social media. They are considered an opportunity
for dialogue and debate and capable of strengthening the bonds of
unity among people and effectively promoting the harmony of the human
family. However, this positive character requires that one's actions
be conducted with concern for privacy, with responsibility and
dedication to the truth, and with authenticity, given that it has to
do not only with information and knowledge but, essentially, with
communicating a part of our very selves."
"The
social dynamic of the social media, it is appropriate to point out,
lies within the even richer and more profound dynamic of the human
heart's existential search. There is an interweaving of questions and
answers that gives meaning to the human person's path. In this
context, the Pope touches upon a delicate aspect of the matter when
he speaks of the ocean of excessive information that overwhelms 'the
gentle voice of reason'."
"The
theme of the Day speaks of new spaces for evangelisation:
evangelisation that announces the Word, that proclaims Jesus Christ.
In this regard we must remember what Benedict XVI wrote in his
message for the World Communications Day in 2011, when he emphasized
that it was not only an explicit expression of the Faith, but
essentially, an effective witness 'in the way one communicates
choices, preferences and judgements that are fully consistent with
the Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically'."
Following
Archbishop Celli's address, Msgr. Tighe explained that "the Pope
takes for granted the importance of the digital environment as a
reality in the lives of many people. It is not some sort of parallel
or merely virtual world but an existential environment where people
live and move. It is a ‘continent’ where the Church must be
present and where believers, if they are to be authentic in their
presence, will seek to share with others the deepest source of their
joy and hope, Jesus Christ. The forum created by the social networks
allows us to share the truth that the Lord has passed to His Church,
to listen to others, to learn about their cares and concerns, to
understand who they are and for what they are searching."
Likewise,
the Holy Father "identifies some of the challenges that we must
address if our presence is to be effective. We must become more
fluent in the language of the social networks; a language that is
born of the convergence of text, image and sound, a language that is
characterized by brevity and that seeks to engage hearts and minds as
well as the intellect. In this regard, the Pope reminds us to draw on
our Christian heritage which is rich in signs, symbols and artistic
expression. We need to remember a basic truth of communications: our
witness – our actions and our patterns of behaviour – is often
more eloquent than our words and proclamations in expressing who we
are and what we believe. In the digital arena, the Pope suggests
that our willingness to engage patiently and respectfully with the
questions and doubts of those we encounter in the networks can be a
powerful expression of our care and concern for them. Notwithstanding
the challenges, we should always be hopeful."
No comments:
Post a Comment